Survivor 45: Meet the Castaways Competing in the Grittiest Season Yet

 Posted on April 10, 2024  |  5 minutes  |  897 words  |  Reinaldo Massengill

A super-sized season of “Survivor” is here!

After 23 years — and 652 episodes! — CBS’ reality competition series is back. For the first time, “Survivor” will feature all 90-minute episodes, instead of the usual one-hour episodes, diving deeper into the the 18 players’ stories as they live stranded in Fiji.

Season 45 will feature “treacherous new elements and navigating an ever-shifting social game,” as the contestants are divided into three tribes of six for a “faster” and “grittier” season. Despite the changes and updates over the last 23 years, the ultimate, end goal remains the same: outwit, outplay and outlast. In the end, only one will win the $1 million prize and the title of Sole Survivor.

Hosted by Jeff Probst, “Survivor” is currently nominated for three Emmys, including Outstanding Reality Competition Program. Kicking off Sept. 27 at 8 p.m., the CBS series will also stream on Paramount+, both live and on demand for Paramount+ with Showtime subscribers.

The cast includes 17 new faces and one familiar: Season 44’s Bruce Perreault, who was medically evacuated on the first day of last season after suffering a concussion.

Meet the full group of castaways below:

  • Kellie Nalbandian

    Age: 30

    Hometown: Weston, Conn.

    Current Residence: New York, N.Y.

    Occupation: Critical care nurse

  • Janani “J” Krishnan-Jha

    Age: 24

    Hometown: San Francisco, Calif.

    Current Residence: Los Angeles, Calif.

    Occupation: Singer

  • Dee Valladares

    Age: 26

    Hometown: Havana, Cuba

    Current Residence: Miami, Fla.

    Occupation: Entrepreneur

  • Austin Li Coon

    Age: 26

    Hometown: San Jose, Calif.

    Current Residence: Chicago, Ill.

    Occupation: Grad student

  • Katurah Topps

    Age: 35

    Hometown: St. Louis, Mo.

    Current Residence: Brooklyn, N.Y.

    Occupation: Civil rights attorney

  • Nicholas “Sifu” Alsup

    Age: 30

    Hometown: O’Fallon, Ill.

    Current Residence: O’Fallon, Ill.

    Occupation: Gym owner

  • Jake O’Kane

    Age: 26

    Hometown: Hanson, Mass.

    Current Residence: Boston, Mass.

    Occupation: Attorney

  • Kendra McQuarrie

    Age: 31

    Hometown: Haverhill, Mass.

    Current Residence: Steamboat Springs, Colo.

    Occupation: Bartender

  • Kaleb Gebrewold

    Age: 29

    Hometown: Port Coquitlam, British Columbia

    Current Residence: Vancouver, British Columbia

    Occupation: Software sales

  • Julie Alley

    Age: 49

    Hometown: Brentwood, Tenn.

    Current Residence: Brentwood, Tenn.

    Occupation: Estate attorney

  • Hannah Rose

    Age: 33

    Hometown: Woodbridge, Conn.

    Current Residence: Baltimore City, Md.

    Occupation: Therapist

  • Sean Edwards

    Age: 35

    Hometown: Lawrence, N.J.

    Current Residence: Provo-Orem, Utah

    Occupation: School principal

  • Bruce Perreault

    Age: 47

    Hometown: West Warwick, R.I.

    Current Residence: Warwick, R.I.

    Occupation: Insurance agent

  • Emily Flippen

    Age: 28

    Hometown: McKinney, Texas

    Current Residence: Laurel, Md.

    Occupation: Investment analyst

  • Brandon Donlon

    Age: 26

    Hometown: Sicklerville, N.J.

    Current Residence: Sicklerville, N.J.

    Occupation: Content producer

  • Drew Basile

    Age: 23

    Hometown: Birmingham, Mich.

    Current Residence: Philadelphia, Pa.

    Occupation: Grad student

  • Brandon “Brando” Meyer

    Age: 23

    Hometown: Oak Park, Calif.

    Current Residence: Seattle, Wash.

    Occupation: Software developer

  • Sabiyah Broderick

    Age: 28

    Hometown: Locust Grove, Ga.

    Current Residence: Jacksonville, N.C.

    Occupation: Truck driver

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